Skilled performances look easy and effortless Skilled performances look easy and effortless. In reality, as every dancer, musician, and athlete knows, they’re the product of hard work, hours of practice, attention to detail, and intense concentration. Like all skilled performances, writing rests on a base of work.
Planning, Writing, and Revising To learn how to Increase the number of expert processes you use. Use your time effectively. Revise after feedback.
Planning, Writing, and Revising Start by answering these questions: Does it matter what process I use? I don’t have much time. How should I use it? What planning should I do before I begin writing or speaking? What is revision? How do I do it?
Planning, Writing, and Revising Start by answering these questions: What is revision? How do I do it? Can a grammar checker do editing for me? I spell check. Do I still need to proofread? How can I overcome writer’s block? Can I use form letters? How can I get better feedback?
Realize that the first draft can be revised. Write regularly. Expert Writers Realize that the first draft can be revised. Write regularly. Break big jobs into smaller chunks. Have clear goals for purpose and audience. Study expert writers to better understand how to approach the writing process. No single writing process works for all writers all of the time, but expert writers seem to use these processes.
Expert Writers continued Have several different strategies to choose from. Use rules flexibly. Edit after the draft is complete.
A Formula for Using Time A Model for Writing ONE THIRD analyzing, gathering, and organizing. drafting/writing. evaluating, revising, editing, and proofreading. Breaking tasks into thirds is a good way to organize your time when composing a message. Save at least two-thirds of your time for planning and revising.
Planning Gathering Writing Evaluating Getting Feedback Revising Activities of Writing Planning Gathering Writing Evaluating Getting Feedback Revising Editing Proofreading Depending on the task, expert writers may use some or all of these activities when writing. The activities can come in any order, may be done more than once, and can be started while others are still being done.
Brainstorm Freewrite Cluster Talk to Your Audiences Storyboard Invention Techniques Brainstorm Freewrite Cluster Talk to Your Audiences Storyboard To brainstorm, think of all of the ideas you can, and write them down as they come to you. To freewrite, follow a similar plan, only write in sentences without stopping for a period of time, even if that means writing, “I can’t think of anything.” Cluster by writing your ideas down and drawing circles around them. Then use different colored pens to group ideas, looking for patterns. Where possible, talk to your audiences formally or informally to involve readers in the planning process. For an oral presentation, meeting, or document with lots of visuals, storyboard using a rectangle for each page or unit. Draw a box with a visual for each main point.
Post-Writing Activities Revising Editing Proofreading Revising means making changes that will better satisfy your purposes and your audiences. Editing means improving grammar. Proofreading means checking to make sure the document is free of typos.
Overcoming Writer’s Block Participate actively in the organization and the community. Practice writing regularly and in moderation. Learn as many strategies as you can. Talk positively to yourself. Talk about writing to other people. Try these five activities to overcome writer’s block. You can also “warm up” for the writing process by using invention techniques.
Overcoming Procrastination Set a regular time to write. Develop a ritual for writing. Try freewriting. Write down the thoughts and fears you have as you write. Identify the problem that keeps you from writing. Set modest goals and reward yourself for reaching them. Procrastination is the enemy of many writers! To avoid procrastinating, develop good work habits, including setting a regular time to write and modest goals to reach.